Oil-burning system



Aug. 10 1926.

A. MINELLA ET AL OIL BURNING SYSTEM Filed May 5, 1923 5 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 10 1926.

A. MINELLA E'r An.

OIL BURNING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Shut 2 Filed` May 3. 1923 Aug. 1o, 1926.' 1,5%,562

A. MINELLA E'r AL OIL BURNING SYSTEM Filed rMay :5. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 a ,ma w

`Patented Aug. 10, 1926. t

PATENT OFFICE.

'ANeELo Mln-ELLA AND rnvm n. Maoanrnua, or BRIGHTON, Massacnusnrrs.

OIL-BURNING SYSTEM.

Application led Hay 3, 1923. Serial No. 636,449.

This invention relates to oil burning systems and its object is to provide a safe, economical and eiicient system especially adaptableto heating apparatus.

In order thatthe principles of the linvention may be readily understood we have, in the accompanying'drawings, shown certain illustrative embodiments ofour invention wherein: y

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a system applied f to a heater, the" latter being shown insection with parts broken away to save space in the drawings;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the fuel feed end regulating means;

Fig. 3 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation of one form of burner adapted for use in the present sys- Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showingthe relation of the fuel', water and air supplying means to each other and to the mixing chamber;

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of another form of burner; and

Fig. 6 is a plan section taken on the line 6-,6 of Fig. 5 illustrating the relation of the water, fuel and -air supplying instrumentalities to each other.

In the drawings a fuel reservoir 1 of appropriate size and design is placed in an elevated position and connected with a burner 2 herein vdispbsed within the re box of. a heater 3, said burner resting upon-` the grate 4 of said heater. The burner 2 which is Iof a peculiar design especially .adapted for heating purposes is ca able of being installed in heaters intende primarily to use various grades of coal and woodas fuel as well vasin heaters designed especially for the burners of`-this invention. For convenience the invention has been illustrated in connection withJ the former type and with'a heater wherein more or less of a space is formed between said burner and the walls of the heater. Tofillin the space thus formed so as toconfine the infeeding air to the burner rather than allow it to escape around the exterior of the burner, said lspace is filled with asbestos or similar material 5.

There are numerous methods of conduct-` preferably provide a system including a sip hon 6 herein composed of two upright pipes 7 and 8 connected near the tops thereof with each other by means of a header 9, saidl header being inclined upwardly away from the reservoir toward the upper end of the pipe 8 for reasonshereinafter described. The pipe 7 is herein shown in communication with the bottom of the reservoir 1 through a union lO-and valve 11 while below the valve 11 is a cap 12 which maybe removed when it is desiredv to drain or clean the reservoir.

, Included in the upright pipe section 8 is a valve casing 13 herein containing a piston valve 14 adapted to operate to stop the to continue, would spread the llame and` cause considerable damage. Therefore said valve is preferably arranged to operate to shut oli' the flow of fuel when an excess of fuel has accumulated in the burner.. An-

other dangerous condition likely to develop is that brought about; by reason of an abnormally small flow of fuel throu hv said Siphon. For example 4when the fue .is being fired a considerable flow will be necessary to maintain the supply necessary to feed the. fire and should this-supply tem'- porarily fail the lire will be extinguished and if the supply valve is not closed'before the flow again starts the heater will be 'flooded and considerable fuel wasted with great danger ofrre resulting. In factit 1sl acommon occurrence for the enti-re con-l tents of reservoirs of known systems tov be completely exhausted before the extinguish-A ing of the flame is detected.:

The'valve 14 has been constructed to accomplishthe shutting olf or the regulation of the, flow ofy fuel through said Siphon when. aforesaid conditions occur and by reason ofj its peculiar construction said valve may continue to move either up or down even after the owof fuel through said pipeS has been cut ofi' or said valve 14 has seated. In

l.other words said valve is provided with two seats 15 andv 16 both of annular cylindrical form adapted to receive' the piston valve 14 and by engagement with the cylindrical surno y face 17 thereof shut off the flow of fuel. The annular` seats 15 and 16 are mounted or arranged within anappropriate casing 19 of suitable form. Furthermore said rings 15 and -16 are separated one from the other by spaced members 18 positioned to guide the piston 14 during its movements from one seat ring to the other, the spaces between said guiding Imembers constituting bypasses 22 through which the fuel passes from one side/of the piston 14 to the other when said piston is in an intermediate position between the rings'15 and 16;

Itv clearly is within the province of the invention to make the cylindrical portion 17 of the piston 14 fit reasonably tight within either seat 15 or 16 so as to prevent any fiow of fuel therethrough when said piston aligns with one or the other of said. seats but obviously pistons of this type will wear, or it is within the scope of the invention deliberately to provide a slight leakage between the said piston and one or both of said seats 15 and 16, and in either case means must be provided to completely shut off the supply of fuel when certain additional movements of the piston have taken place. Therefore said piston 14 has been provided with faces 23 and 24 arranged to cooperate with auxiliary seats 25 and 26 respectively at opposite ends of the casing 13 and preferably when either one of said faces is in engagement with its seat the passage of fuel through the siphonwill be entirely cut off. Y

ItA will thus be seen that an extended movement of the piston valve 1 4maytake place in one directionor the" other without completely shutting off the supply of fuel yet said supply may be increased or diminished or absolutely cut ofi' whenever conditions require.

Means have been provided for automatically operating said piston to regulate the feeding of the fuel and herein this means lpreferably includes a fluid chamber 27 connected with the pipe 8 preferably below the casing. 13 and approximately at the level at which it is desirable normally to maintain the fuel within the burner 2 at the 4startlng of n the operations, said level being indicatedin Fig. 1 by the line (1 -a. With- 1n the fluid chamber 27 is a float 28 connected by a rod 29 with said valve 1-4 wherethe fuel from that indicated at a-a will effect the rising and falling of said valve 14 according to whether or not the variation of said level a is up or down from the intermediate position shown in Fig. 2. The oat chamber 27 has communication through a suitable pipe line 30 with a burner 2. tickler rod 31 is provided for the float 28 ojecting through the cover 32 of said .float c amber whereby the fioat may be manually matassay moved up or down as desired to start, stop or control the supply of fuel to said float chamber and said burner.

Means are also provided for initiating the flow of fuel through the siphon by the ejection of air from said Siphon, said means including a force pump 33 herein arranged at the lower end of the upright pipe 7 hav` ing a manually operable piston 34 which may be reeiprocated in its cylinder to force fuel from the reservoir 1 to the highest point in said Siphon, which highest point is herein at the top of the chamber 8 whereupon the continuity of fuel inV said siphon may be established.

Under ordinary conditions as has been stated therfuel will be maintained at the level a-a, and when at this level the valve 14 will remain in a position' with relation to the seats 15 and 16 which will permit sufficient fuel to pass through the casing 13 to supply the amount of fuel desired to mainl tain the burner 2 in operation, but should the flame be extinguished it is obvious that the fuel will continue to flow until said piston valve has moved by the rising of the level inthe float chamber suflicientlyto cut ofi the supply of such fuel through said valve. It will be'apparent, however, that there are times when it will be desirable to break the continuity Ioffuel in the siphon and thus absolutely stop the supply of fuel to the burner. This condition is likely to be desired when the valve4 14 becomes'worn to such van extent that'too great a supply of fuel will leak through the piston portion 17 and the seat 15. To accomplish the breaking of the continuity of fuel at such a time means have been provided herein consisting of an air valve 35 which is spring-pressed or self-closed against its seat 36 located preferably at the highest point in the siphon 6 herein at the upper end of the pipe 8 adjacent the elevated end of the header 9. Cooperating witht-he valve 35 is a rod 37 connected with the piston valve 14. The p rod 37- is not normally in engagement with the valve 35, a space 38 being provided between the end of said rod and said valve to allow a limited upward movement of said rod and the valve 14 without effecting the position of said valve 35. Thus` under normal conditions` the valve 14 will adequately control the flo-w of fuel under the impulse given it by the rising and falling of the fuel in the Heat chamber 27. Furthermore the gap or space 38 is slightly less than that space between the flat surface 23 and the seat valve 35 will be raised 'hy the rod 37 immediately preceding the seating of said A piston valve 14 against-said seat 25.

reason of said air valve and the means to regulate and cut 0E the autom aticallyT supply of fuel, the extinguishment of the- 25 so that said ame in the 'heater will result in the cutting off of the supply of fuel thereto so that no danger of flooding the heater or the room in which said 'heater is lplaced will exist. Under ordinary conditions a siphon such as that shown in the accompanying drawings would u on opening of the air valve be complete y drained of its contents-at least would this be true regarding the length of ipe line from the level of the fuel in the ont chamber 27 upwardly to said air valve 35 and from said air valve along the inclined pipe or header 9 and down the pipe 7 to a level equal to the level of the fuel within the fuel receptacle 1 but if this is allowed to happen in the present system the force pump 33 will again have to be called into action to start the iow of fuel through the Siphon. It is desirable after the dangerous conditions have been removed and the excess fuel drained or evaporated from the burner that the feeding of fuel be automatically renewed and for this purpose the| header 9 has been upwardly inclined as hereinbefore described. In the pipe 7 A a check valve 35 is provided which retains the 'section of the pipe 7 above said check valve and all of the header 9 filled with fuel even though said valve 35 has been opened. With the fuel in said pipe 9 on the verge of overflowing into the pipe 8 -upon the closing of the valve 35 by the lowering of the float an air pocket obviously will be a trated a 1 reason -drop ,45

produced between the level of` the fuel in said float chamber and the level of fuel at the upper end of. said header,y l9 and this air pocket, although slightly elastic, will be sufficient, unen the dropping` of the level in ,said iioat chamber to start the iow of fuel over the verge of said header 9 thus new? ing the siphon or continuity of 1i uid in said siphon.J Should the lvel of t e fuel within the burner or float chamber f or any below the safety point or to a point wherethev'lame will be extinguished, the valve 14 will be ,automatically operated by said float to shut' olf the supply of fuel, thus preventing the discharge of the entire contents of the reservoir.

Wlthin the seppe and rpose of the invention various types o burners may be employed but in Figs. 3 and 4 we have illuspreferred embodies in its construction a fuel receptacle 40 herein of lannular formation 42, `sai an inner wall 41 and an outer wall inner wall being slightly lower than tlie outer wall to confine the ow of fuel upon the flooding of said receptacle toward its rcenter where is located the mixing chamber of the burner. For convenience in cl'eaning, said receptacle has a removable lining 43, the inner and outer walls whereof coincide in respect to height withh the walls 41 and42 of-vsaid receptacle.

form of burner which Adjacent to said fuel receptacle is a water chamber 44 which, for convenience, encircles the fuel receptacle and is formed in part' by the outer wall 42 of said fuel receptacle and in part by an outer annular wall y45 ex- E tending slightly above said wall 42. Thel water and 'fuel containers, for convenience, are arranged in an annular casting provided with a plurality of-lugs or feet 47 arranged to'rest upon a cylindrical support extending combustion of said fuel or if desired, said trough may be supplie with fuel and the latter ignited to initiate the operation of the burner.

- Surmounting the casting 46 is a late or cap 53 herein adapted to rest tight y upon said casting along the outer rim 54 thereof.

on the upper Said cap is also supported u edge of the inner wall 41 o said fuel receptacle herein at spaced 'points b lugs 55 let 56 for the vapor produced in the fuel receptacle 40. The, c a 53. has a lcentral opening 57 aligning an herein substantially coextensive with the lcenter of the interior of the cylindrical support 48 which members which are so arranged as to -provi e an out- A together forma mixing chamber 58., The

lower end of the cylindrical support 48 is open to the. space below the grate 4 and constitutes an air duct through which airis supplied to the mixing chamber to provide theproper mixture for the fuel. The upper surface of the cap 53 is preferably provided with radial ribs 59 which form suitable channels leading to the ignition region orlame edge-of the burner and these ribs also provide increased heating surfaces for increasing lthe temperature of thecharge in its passage to saidfflame edge, thus greatly increasing the eiiiciencyof combustion.

vFor convenience the ribs 59 are reduced in height atl 60 and constitute supports forlate 61 which surmounts said a defleeting cap 53 and irects the a'ir and vapor after belngmixed outwardly to the flame edge of the burner which latter' is' formed -by the outer rim 62 of said deflecting plate Aand the corresponding edge of the casting The deilecting plate 61 is preferably designed to produce thedeflec'tionof said vapor and air without ret-arding the flow thereof. The cap 53 and the deiector 6,1 preferably merely l l rest one upon theother and luponthe-anuulindricalsupport 48 and its lar casting 46 and may quickly and easily be removed for cleaning.

By reason ofthe arrangement of the cytrough-like base 5l the infeeding air will be directed to the mixing chamber and the mouth. of the fuel receptacle Without contacting with and chilling said receptacle and because of the proximity of said fuel receptacleand water chamber to the flame edge of said burner, said fuel may be maintained at a high tem perature and thereby greatly enhance the vaporization both of the water and Aof the fuel. The vapor arising from the water in said water chamber will be-directed by the under surface of said cap 53 over the .:all 42 and across the top of the fuel receptacle mixing with the fuel vapor at this point and passing therewith through the slots 56 to the mixing chamber where mixture 1s effected with the infeeding air whence they will be directed by the cap plate 61 through the reduced segmental slots 68 to the flame edge of said burner andignited. f

The fuel supply pipe 30 from the Siphon tube 6 enters thebottom of said fuel receptacle and extends slightly abovelthe bottom surface thereof as shown at 464 thus preventing the sediment from flowing back into the pipe 30 and clogging the same.

Any appropriate means may be provided for supplying water to said burner and in the present example I have provided a water receptacle 65 connected by a pipe line G6 through the bottom wall of the member 47 with the water chamber 4 4, a valve 67 being inserted in said pipe Line to regulate or shut off the supply ofwatertt` said water chamber.

Obviously the valve 67 may be set so as to supply the amount of water necessary for ordinary use but it is inevitable that 'the demand upon this will vary as does that for fuel, therefore, it is desirable to provide means automatically to control the` supply of water, which, in the presentexample, includes a valve 86 in the pipe line 66, said valve Ibeing preferably similar to the valve 14 hereinbefore described. For convenience the valve 86 is enclosed 1n a sultable case 87 and is operatively connected like 14 with a float 89 enclosed within a suitable fioat chamber 88,`said valve 86 bemg operated to close either upon the presence o; an excess of water or too little thereof in the float chamber 88 and these conditions obviously may be effected by the position of the valve 67. A

It is obvious that after the burner has once been started, heat produced by combustion will maintain the various walls and surfaces of the device at sufficiently high temperature to produce the most satisfactory mixture for an efficient combustion of the fuel and air due to the proximity of the fuel receptacles and to the arrangement for providing air to the combustion chamber but in order to eect ignition-and also the heating of the fuel and air to insure proper vaporization for starting the device into operation, extraneous means may be provided. For this purpose, if desired, the trough 51 may be filled with fuel and ignited and heat thereof will cause the walls of the cylindrical support 48 to become'7- properly heated so as to increase the temperature of the air entering the air passage in the cylindrical support 48 to the most desirable temperature for mixing an also the flames from said burning fuel will contact with the under surface of the annular casing 46, thus providing heat necessary to effect the initial vaporization of the fuel Within the fuel receptacle 40 and the water in the cl1ambe144.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a pilot light 67 which may, if desired, be kept burning low at all times so that in case of the extinguishment of the flame by reason of a reduction in the supply of fuel to theburner or otherwise said pilot will upon the replenishin'g of the fuel automatically ignite and continue the operations of the burner.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the fuel, air and vapor are all heated prior to mixing and the infeeding air is pre/- vented from contacting directly with the fuel receptacle, thus preventing chilling of the fuel therein. y

In the form of burner shown in Figs. 3

yand 4 the air is fed into the burner upwardly to the mixing chamber and centrally of the burner but it is within the scope and purpose of the invention to vary quite materially the relations of the air-supplying means and fuel receptacles and in Figs, 5 and 6 We have illustrated a modified form of burner wherein the air is admitted at the sides and brought down into the vmixing chamber while the fuel is admitted centrally thereof.

In this example a fuel receptacle 68 is arranged centrally of the burner and fuel 1s supplied thereto through a fuel pipe 69 arl ranged centrally of said receptacle and protruding upwardly a substantial distance above the bottom to prevent sediment from flowing back and clogging said pipe. For convenience the fuel receptacle 68 is made frustoconical in shape with itsupper tapering walls 7() provided with a series of diverging ribs 71 which greatly increase the heat radiating surface of said receptacle.

Surmounting said receptacle 68 is a cupola-likestructure 72 closed at its upper end and provided with a flooded, the fuel is discharged upon the up per ribbed surface of said receptacle and plurality of orifices i 73 through which, when theA burner is vaporized. The orifices 73 are arranged slightly above the level represented by the dotted line b, bto which level the uelis ation with conditions normal the heat of the burner will vaporize the fuel the moment it enters said receptacle no surplus being allowed to collect because of the ,cooperative regulation'of the valve 14 and hand operated valve 90 arranged in said pipe line.

The receptacle 68 is arranged within a base member 74 provided with an upwardly flaring air defiectin bottom 75.

Surmounting sai base 74 are air tubes .76 herein three in number which align with openings 77 in the base member 74; air tubes 76 are preferably united by a circular plate 78 arranged at the upper end of said a1r tubes and herein formed integral with said plate is a depending curtain-like member 79 preferably cylindrical and terminating a slight distance above the top Alribbed wall of said fuel receptacle to provide a discharge orifice 80 for the mixture. The upper ends of the. air tubes 76 and said plate 78 are surmounted by a deflecting cap plate 81 preferably resting against the periphery of said plate 78 and l,eing so constructed that the air admitted through the grate 4 of the heater and through said air tubes will be deflected toward the -center of the burner past the orifices 73 of the fuel receptacle, thence downwardly against thei ribbed upper wall of said fuel receptacle to said discharge orilic'ei'SO, herein the region of combustion. The curtain member 70 encircling the cupola 72 of the fuel receptacle forms a mixing chamber 82 where the air supplied through the air tubes 76 and the fuel discharged through said` orifices are mixed properly to form thelcharge which is ignited preferably as it isY discharged at 80 and produces i a flameV which extends from said orifice 80 to the outer edges 83 of the cap plate. 81 which, in the present-example, is the flameedge of said burner.

In order to supply water vapor to Ithe burner to increase the efficiency of the charge a coil of pipe 84 is preferably arranged within said burner resting upon the plate 78 one end of said coil having communication at 85 with the top of the cupola 72, the other end `of said wall being connected with a supply tube 86 herein entering said burner through one of said air tubes 76. With this burner as with the one shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the air conducting tubes will be heated by the flame from the burner so that the air entering the mixing chamber will be preheated; likewise the upper surface of the fuel receptacle; also the water supply tube will be heated so that both the water and The" the fuel will be vaporized -before they reach said mixinlg chamber and furthermore by reason of t e protecting Wall 7 5 of the base 74 the cold air entering the tubes 76 will be prevented from contactin directly with the fuel receptacle and thus eminate all 'danger of chilling the l.fuel before mixture. A featureof this burner as of the one shown in Figs. 3 and 4, isi. that all parts are readily removable for the purpose of cleaning.

' JHaving thus described the best modes known to us for producing our invention and certain specific embodiments of means whereby, if desired, such may be carried out we desire it to be understood that We have employed terms in a generic sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth 'in the following claims:

l. In an oil burning system, a burner, a fuel reservoir, a siphon to conduct fuel from said reservoir to said burner, said siphon having a portion of pipe elevated above said reservoir, a float, a valve arranged in said Siphon actuated by said float, an air Valve arran ed in said elevated pipe and means exten 'ng from said valve to said air valve to operate the latter upon excessive upward movement of said float and break the continuit of liquid in said Siphon. 2. n an oil burning system, a burner, a fuel reservoir, a siphon to conduct fuel from saidreservoir to said burner, said Siphon includin two upright-members and an inclined eader arranged above said reservoir and providing communication between the upper 1portions of said upright members, an air va ve arranged near the upper end of said header, and float actuated' means to open said air valveand admit air into said siphon. l 3. In'an oil'burning system, a burner, a

fuel reservoir, a Siphon-to conduct fuel from said reservoir to saidburner, a piston valve to control the flow of fuel through said Siphon, a lioat chamber, a iioat in said.

chamber connected with .said piston valve and adapted to effect the closing of said valve either -upon an abnormal rise or fall of fuel in said iioat chamber'and an air valve for said Siphon arranged to be operated by movement of said piston valve beyond its closing position.

4. In an oil burning system, a burner, a fuel reservoir, a siphon to conduct fuel from said reservoir to said burner, a piston valve arranged in said Siphon, a iioat chamber, a iioat in said chamber connected with said piston valve adapted to o erate said valve upon the rise or fall of uel in said oat chamber to regulate the How of fuel through said Siphon and an air' valve for said Siphon adapted to be opened upon the rising of said float to an abnormal height thereby to destroy the continuity of fuel in said Siphon.

5. In a liquid controlling device a liquid reservoir, siphonic means including a pipe elevated above said reservoir to conduct liquid from said reservoir, a Huid chamber connected With said sip'hon, a valve to control the discharge of liquid from said siphon into said fluid chamber', a float actuated by abnormalfchanges in the level of liquid in said luidchamber to close said valve, and automatic air supplying means in said ele` vated pipe operated by excess movement of said iioat to stop theiow of liquid through said siphon upon an abnormal change in the level of liquid in said fluid chamber.

6. In combination, a fuel consuming device, a fuel reservoir, an auxiliary fuel c011- tainer interposed between said reservoir and said container, Siphon means to convey fuel from said reservoir to said container, valve means responsive to a predetermined rise or fall of the fuel in said container to Aout olf the supply of fuel thereto, means to convey fuel from said auxiliary container to said fuel consuming device and means effected by 'an abnormal operation of said valve means to break said siphon.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our name to this specification.

. ANGELO MINELLA.

ELVIN D. MACARTHUR. 

